11. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Evan
I really hope the hospital plans to let me go soon because it wasn't so bad here on the first day. On day two, I started to really miss my daughter, and the video calls weren't helping. But now, here’s day three, and it's the longest she and I have been apart. I am more than ready to go.
Cody hasn't left my side, and I am so grateful for it. I can't imagine being left here alone with my own thoughts. But even with his company, I'm still going a bit stir-crazy, so when Rick walks in the door, I am relieved, to say the least. Now, I can find out what is going on with Calvin's case.
“I'm going to head out and get some non-hospital food and let you guys talk. I'll smuggle you some food back in.” Cody stands and shakes Rick's hand.
“I'll stay with him until you get back,” Rick says, and Cody nods.
We watch Cody go before Rick turns to me.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
“Like I've been shot and stuck in a hospital for days on end.” I give my standard reply, but he sees right through it.
“How are you really”? He asks, pulling up the chair.
“Well, I miss my daughter, and I'm ready to get out of here. While I hate the pain meds I'm on and how they make me feel not like myself, but I hate the pain when I don't take them.” I give myself full honesty. He was there when it happened. I owe him at least that.
"Yeah,” he says. “I had my appendix removed, and I hated the IV pain meds, but the pills they gave me when I went home didn't make me feel doped up. So, I hope that's the case with you, too.”
“Let's hope. What is going on with Calvin's case?” I ask.
“They are still going through the house.”
“What? Why is it taking so long, and where is Kaylee staying?”
“Well, you were shot with an illegal weapon. Her house was being used as a place to sell drugs, yet we have found nothing. Kaylee is staying at Calista's place while Calista is staying at her parents’ helping with Skye.”
“Calvin did a stupid thing, but he's smart. Did you get a warrant to check his place?” I ask.
“Yes, that took longer than it should have. Once you were shot, everything stopped until we knew you were okay. Right now, the guys are over there searching his house, but I haven't heard any updates.”
“I still don’t understand why they are so fixated on Kaylee's place if they didn't find anything,” I wonder out loud. What am I missing? Are the drugs making things too hazy?
“Well, think about it,” Rick says. “Everyone has cameras these days, fancy doorbells, or security measures. She didn't. Why? Also, you are telling me that with all the strangers in and out, she noticed nothing? Some of the guys think she is hiding something. I don't know if she is anything other than too trusting. It’s not clear.”
“Or it’s all too much and something will come to her later. Hopefully, something shows up at Calvin's place to figure out who his supplier is.” I say as Cody comes back in.
“Shop talk over?” he asks, pulling a fast food bag out of his jacket and setting it on the table beside my bed.
“I'll let you eat. Let us know when you break free of this place. You know the Chief has been calling this guy a few times a day for updates. Everyone wants to check on you,” Rick says, pointing to Cody and then awkwardly shakes my hand.
Once Rick leaves, Cody takes the chair next to my bed. “I talked with Mom, and Skye really wants to come see you tomorrow after school. Mom wanted to know if you were in regular clothes, if everything would be hidden, and if it would be okay for Skye to come up,” Cody asks.
I hate for Skye to see me like this, but fuck do I miss her.
“We can unhook the IV for up to an hour so she won't see all the tubes,” my nurse says.
I’m not sure how I missed her walking in.
“Any chance you know when I‘ll be able to go home?” I ask.
“The surgeon will check on you tomorrow and sign off then. Your doctor has to sign off, too. It could be as soon as tomorrow night, but most likely, the next day.”
“Let me think about it,” I say to Cody because going two more days without seeing her is a bit too much.
“Okay, Mom will be calling soon, so you can ask her when you talk. Are you still okay with Calista staying with you and helping?”
Fuck, the thought of having Calista under my roof and in my space has given me some very inappropriate thoughts, especially with her brother sitting a few feet away. I haven't let myself think too much about it.
“Yeah, better someone I know and trust than some stranger,” I say.
“You know there are plenty of people who would do it, all of whom we trust. She is just the most qualified, but if you aren't comfortable…”
I interrupt him. “I'd rather have her,” I say rather too quickly.
Cody pauses and stares at me with a questioning look, but doesn't say anything. I don't want to let him know how much I like being around Calista. Growing up, Cody made it crystal clear that his sister was off limits to everyone. We even beat up a few kids who thought they could sneak around that rule and use Cody to get close to her.
Because of this, I never told Cody how I felt about her. My friendship with Cody means everything to me. So, I will do what I did then and lock the feelings up. I won't let my mind wander down the what ifs for too long. At least I will try.
“Okay, I think it's the best choice. I know I will worry less with her there to help you out,” he says.
I cringe. Maybe he should worry more. I sure do. But it's just a few weeks, and I will keep the wall up. It won't be a big deal.
Just then, his phone goes off, and he checks it before turning to me. “Ready to video chat with Skye?”
“Yeah,” I say, and he helps me sit up and put on a sweater to hide the bandages over my shoulder before he calls her and hands me the phone.
“Daddy!’ Skye giggles and keeps glancing off screen.
“What are you doing, princess?” I ask.
She pushes some buttons on the screen, and the phone flips around, showing off a massive blanket fort in Cody's parents' living room.
“Uncle Colt and Uncle Kaiden helped build a fort! Want to see inside?” She’s almost bouncing with excitement to show me.
“Of course I do. I think that's bigger than any fort we ever built as kids,” I say.
“Oh, it is!” Colt calls from the background.
Skye giggles and walks inside the fort. The first thing I see is Calista in sweatpants and a shirt that molds to her curves, her hair in a messy bun. She sees Skye and smiles.
“Look, we are going to have a movie night in the fort!” she says. Then she turns the phone to show me the TV that has been put in the makeshift fort.
“Wow, I'm so jealous. That's better than any fort I've built,” I say as the camera flips back to her face.
“Calista is going to braid my hair and paint my nails. After we have popcorn,” Skye says, slipping back out of the fort and sitting on the couch that's been pushed out of the way. When can I come see you?” Her voice is much more serious now.
I glance over at Cody, and he shrugs.
“Well, since it's the weekend tomorrow, maybe you can come and visit then,” I say.
“Calista said she'd take me,” Skye says.
“Mom wants to clean, and Dad needs to mow the yard,” Cody whispers, letting me know why they won't bring her.
“Sounds like a plan. I can't wait to see you.” Even though I’m trying to listen while she keeps talking, all I can think about is seeing Calista tomorrow.
“Calista is texting that they just pulled into the parking lot,” Cody says.
I've been running this over in my head a million different ways, and my nerves are in full force as my nurse caps off my IV and turns off the monitors in my room. The goal is to make it a little less scary for Skye.
A few minutes later, she walks into the room, clinging to Calista's hand.
“Daddy!” Skye yells and takes off at a run, slipping from Calista’s hand.
Thankfully, Cody catches Skye right before she launches herself on the bed.
We spaced out my pain meds, so I'd be alert, but I'm definitely ready for my next dose.
“You have to be careful of Daddy's shoulder,” Cody says, pointing to my shoulder, where my arm is in a sling.
“Does it hurt Daddy?” Skye asks.
“Yes, but it's healing and will soon be back to normal,” I tell her.
When Cody gently sets Skye on my bed, she lies down and rests her head on my good shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her.
“Are you having fun with Calista?” “Yes. She does my hair every day,” she says.
“How would you feel if she came and stayed with us for a bit after I got out of the hospital?” I ask.
“I'd like that. Why, though?” she asks.
“I'm going to need help, and Calista is a nurse. She will be able to help me until my shoulder heals.”
“When are you coming home?”
“Hopefully, tomorrow. I am waiting on one more doctor to say it's okay.”
Skye settles in and cuddles while Calista fills me in on some of the papers that have come home from school, and other things I should know about. Mentally, I make a note to add her to Skye's pickup list, at least while she is staying with me.
“Alright, I can't put it off any longer. I need to hook your IV back up,” the nurse says, coming in a while later.
Cody picks up Skye, who watches everything the nurse does to hook my IV back up.
“I want to go home,” Skye says once everything is hooked back up. Her voice is shaky and a little teary.
This is what I was worried about. I didn’t want Skye to be scared or worried. I say goodbye, and Calista follows Skye, who is pulling her out of the room.
“We should have had her leave before the IV was hooked up,” Cody says.
I just nod because all I can think about is how Skye went to Calista for comfort and how much they are bonding. It has to be because Calista is a female, and Skye doesn’t have many women in her life. That must be the reason she is clinging to Calista. Right?